|
Stotfold Mill
Mill Lane, Stotfold, Bedfordshire
The story of a remarkable restoration
Stotfold Mill, formerly known as Randalls Mill, was the town's last working watermill and boasted the widest corn-mill waterwheel in the UK.
It ceased operation in 1966. On the River Ivel, it is one of four in Stotfold which were listed in the 1086
Domesday Book.
In 1992 tragedy struck and the building was gutted by fire. The structure was seriously damaged,
but most of the main milling machinery was repairable. What happened next is a remarkable story of achievement. |
Pen, ink & watercolour of Stotfold Mill c.1900 by local artist Patricia Holding.
The Mill's 65ft high crooked chimney, visible from the A1 motorway, is a familiar landmark which has dominated the Stotfold skyline for over a century.
|
|
After the 1992 fire, years of lobbying and negotiating followed until the Mill finally became the property
of the Stotfold Mill Preservation Trust whose primary aims are:
To preserve, restore and maintain Stotfold Mill,
a building of special architectural and historical interest, as a working watermill and display
of rural life artefacts, for the education and benefit of the public.
To manage the conservation, protection and
preservation of the adjacent Stotfold nature reserve and in doing so provide for the care and
management of the reserve and the education of the public in the understanding, appreciation
and enjoyment of the flora and fauna of the reserve. |
The front of the fire-ravaged Mill, taken from across Mill Lane.
Various facilities have been provided in the restored building, including a tea room,
conference room and toilets, and there is a new wheelchair lift to give access to the upper floors.
While future public viewing is planned, owing to the heavy and dangerous nature of the
restoration work still being undertaken, no access for the general public can be allowed
at the moment, with the exception of published events and open days. A schedule of future events
and open days together with pictures of previous events can be found in the Events section.
In November 2006, the rebuilt Mill received a Royal Visit from HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.
To keep in touch with
continuing restoration progress view the News page, and of course, bookmark this page. |
A group of local volunteers has worked enthusiastically throughout
the restoration, carrying out many essential tasks which have ranged from clearing sixty tonnes of fire
debris and assisting with the fitting of new sluices to, in recent years, providing invaluable help and
support during events and open days.
The Friends of The Mill group (FoTM), was set up to keep
volunteers and other interested people up to date with the Mill's development, as well as organise
social events and get-togethers.
As part of the plan to make the Mill fully operational, the River Authority has improved the
river's flow by dredging the Ivel immediately upstream of the Mill.
Rear view of the rebuilt and restored Mill.
 |
